Lost & Found

What do I do if my pet is LOST?

First of all search your neighbourhood immediately, leaving the description of your missing pet and your contact details with as many people as possible. Remember to speak to any postmen, or other service personnel that cover a wide area

Emergency VetCare takes in lost dogs and strays for Bournemouth and Poole councils out of hours, so call us in case they are with us

Call local veterinary surgeons as your pet may be taken to any of them

Place ‘Lost Pet Posters’ everywhere you can – local shops, vets, lamp-posts, restaurants, superstores. Be sure to check the fly-posting regulations in your area.

Call the local Animal Welfare Officers / Dog Wardens and register your pet on their

Make sure your pet is healthy and uninjured; you may need to have them checked over by your vet

Take down your posters, contact any newspapers/radio stations and make people aware that you have found your pet

Remember to inform the Lost and Found Pet websites.

If they are not already microchipped, get them done! Remember for dogs, it’s a legal requirement!

What do I do if I FIND a pet?

Catch stray dogs if you can safely do so – remember they will be scared and may be unpredictable!

Check for a collar and tag which will have the owner’s details

Please take them straight to a local vet or contact your local animal warden (as above). This will be the quickest and easiest way to find the owner as they will be able to scan the pet for a microchip number and contact the registered owners if they have one. Please note however, vets are not obliged to take in healthy pets, and may not be able to do so.

Most cats are not actually lost, so it may not be in their best interest to remove them from their familiar territory – please phone for advice first

Many of the lost animals brought to us, cannot be reunited because their owners’ contact details on collars or microchips are not up to date – are yours?!